cant log on to win-xp ( from 8-14 post )

original post:
im trying to help a friend with his comp.
he's running xp on a dell machine and when its
booted up it goes to the welcome screen then stops.
when you try to click the " log on icon " it loads the
normal wallpaper for about 3 seconds then logs
off and goes back to the welcome screen with the
log on icon.
this happens even when you try to boot in safe mode.
also while trying to boot in 1 of the safe modes
you get a logon for administrator and 1 for his logon.
the same happens when you log on with either.
im thinkin some sort of bug but not sure.
any ideas?

reply from chaslang:
You might be looking at a reinstall or a repair install. You could have deleted the c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe file. You could try booting to the recovery console and copy the file from your WinXP CD (that is assuming that this is actually the problem.) This is not a problem for the Malware Forum. You have a corrupted OS or registry which is really an issue to work in the Software Forum.

also missing from my original post i was told he also kept getting a keyboard error message. since i pickup his comp i have only seen this message once during the numerous restarts. and the k/b i have connected to it works.
does this change things and if not how do i boot in recovery console?
ive never had to do this.
thanks.

 

When exactly did this start happening?

Did one run adaware, and then did adaware find blaze find and then remove it?

If so, try the following:

Find the original xp install cd, boot from that, when the first option to Repair, hit R, recovery console should appear. Ignore the keyboard question, unless you are not using a non-standard us keyboard.

Then, hit 1 for c:\windows press enter( after hitting one).

Now:

cd system32
copy userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe
exit

Then if you can get into the system:

 

ok additional info
i believe the machine came with win-me installed
and the xp is a upgrade.
i have the xp cd in the drive and have rebooted.
it still takes me to the log on screen with the same results.
am i doing something wrong while trying to reboot in recovery mode?
do i need to change the settings to boot to the cdrom drive?
and thx for the quick reply theefool

 

Go into the bios, and MAKE SURE that the CDROM is the first item in the boot up order.

Then when it asks if to boot from cdrom, be sure to press the "any" key to boot to the cdrom .

 

ok after hitting 1 for c:\windows i am being asked for the administrator password. I have tried every poss p/w i was given and none worked.
is there a way around this?
if adaware was run i dont know.
would reinstalling xp be a viable option?
he would like to preserve existing files on h/d.
thanks for the help

 

Have you tried just hitting the enter key for the password?

 

LMAO
why thank you captain obvious
lol j/k
that worked. i have the file copied.
however i still cannot get past the welcome page after rebooting.